Spatio-temporal evolution and driving factors of waste disposal facilities in China

This study attempts to explore the evolution process and driving factors of waste disposal facilities in China by employing a unique dataset that combines municipal-level data on socioeconomic characteristics with establishment-level information on waste disposal facilities over the years 2003–2020. This research reveals a noticeable transformation in the structure of waste disposal facilities in China, with rapid declines in landfill sites and steady increases in incineration plants and composting plants. Meanwhile, the distribution of waste disposal facilities exhibits an apparent spatial imbalance across regions. Specifically, landfill sites are primarily clustered in the central regions; incineration plants are concentrated in eastern areas; and composting plants are scattered and widely distributed. The results of the dynamic spatial Durbin model further indicate that consumption level and land area are the two main driving factors of the increase in the total number of waste disposal facilities and that of three different types of facilities; for each 1% increase in the two factors, the total number of waste disposal facilities will increase by 0.4551 and 0.1329 units respectively. However, waste generation, population density, land price, industrial structure and policy instruments have rather heterogeneous effects on waste disposal facilities and their different types. This study can provide guidelines for optimizing the distribution pattern of waste disposal facilities to mitigate against the unbalanced and inadequate development of waste disposal facilities in China and other developing countries with similar situations.